Understanding Feeding Challenges in Children With Autism

Autism is a developmental disorder that can have profound effects on children, including difficulty feeding. Your developmental pediatrician can help. Dr. Allison Smoller at Developmental Pediatrics of Central Jersey in Ocean, NJ, provides a wide range of pediatric services, including treatment and management of autism.

How Autism Can Affect Feeding

When a child has autism, these are some of the most common developmental delays you might see:

• Not responding when his or her name is called
• Not showing any interest in objects or things
• Avoiding eye contact with others
• Being unable to understand his or her feelings
• Being unable to understand the feelings of other people
• Being unable to speak or is delayed in speaking
• Repeating the same words or phrases
• Not doing well with change in his or her routine

In addition to these issues, an autistic child may have feeding issues. An autistic child might:

• Have difficulty with different smells, tastes, textures, and how food appears
• Be very selective about foods, often liking starchy foods and snack foods and disliking fruits and vegetables
• Engage in restrictive behaviors or rituals that can interfere with eating
• Exhibit behaviors during mealtimes such as crying, tantrums, and leaving the table
• Be prone to nutritional deficiencies, weight loss, and growth delays due to eating issues

You can follow a couple of tips to help with feeding issues related to autism. You can try:

• Beginning with dry foods and gradually adding in wet foods or foods with different textures, smells, and tastes
• Getting your child involved in the food preparation, including shopping for ingredients and mixing ingredients together

Your pediatrician is a valuable resource and may recommend seeking out the expertise of a counselor or dietitian to help.

Want To Know More About Autism and Feeding Challenges?

To learn more about how autism affects feeding and how your developmental pediatrician can help, call Dr. Allison Smoller at Developmental Pediatrics of Central Jersey in Ocean, NJ. You can reach her in the office by calling (732) 660-0220, so call today.